Rash of auto burglaries in Lawrence neighborhood had common theme: unlocked doors

A handful of people in one Lawrence neighborhood left themselves easy prey for car burglars this week — by leaving their vehicles unlocked, police say.

About 3:30 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to an auto burglary in the 4100 block of Wimbledon Circle, according to an email from Officer Derrick Smith. Smith said officers found a total of 10 vehicles in the same area that had been burglarized and that each targeted vehicle had been left unlocked.

Thefts from autos were reported on Wimbledon Circle, Wimbledon Drive, Wimbledon Terrace, Inverness Drive, Hogan Drive and Palmer Court, according to the day’s police activity log. The addresses are in the area east of the intersection of Inverness and Wimbledon drives, and southwest of The Jayhawk Club golf course.

Lawrence police tweeted this next-morning PSA: “Overnight, patrol officers worked 10 auto burglaries in one small area. Each and every car was unlocked. PLEEEEASE lock your cars.”

— I’m the Journal-World’s public safety reporter. Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com or by phone at 785-832-7187. I’m also on Twitter, @saramarieshep.